5 Career Questions With Diane von Furstenberg

We asked fashion design icon Diane von Furstenberg, founder of the eponymous global fashion empire, author of the new memoir, The Woman I Wanted to Be, and, most recently, the star of a new reality competition show, House of DVF, airing Sunday nights on E!, to share her best career advice.

Ever look at women in "power jobs," running companies, changing the face of business, or starting their own and seriously consider emailing them to ask how they got there? And how the heck YOU can get there too? Yes, well, we wondered the very same thing—so we asked! And we're sharing their awesome answers with you every month, right here on Glamour.com. Learn their career secrets and get advice from some of today's most successful women. It's like having your own private networking lunch, minus all the time, money, and excess bread-basket calories. This time, we asked fashion design icon Diane von Furstenberg, founder of the eponymous global fashion empire, author of the new memoirThe Woman I Wanted to Be, keynote speaker at the upcoming Women Entrepreneurs Festival, and, most recently, the star of a new reality competition show,House of DVF, airing Sunday nights on E!, to share her best career advice.

While fans of the show get a weekly inside look at what it takes to make it at DVF as contestants compete to win a spot as a brand ambassador—says von Furstenberg, "I think people will be surprised by how inspiring it is!"—we thought we'd get her take on a few more job specifics, so don your cutest wrap dress and read on for some serious career motivation.

Her best advice for young designers:

DVF: I always tell young designers to apply for the scholarships and the contests because even if you don't win, it is a fabulous exercise in putting it all down on paper—another way of finding clarity. The clearer you are about who you are and what you are trying to do, the better off you'll be.

What she learned from writing her memoir, The Woman I Wanted to Be:

DVF: I often talk about confidence, but I hope that women will also take away [from the book] this willingness to fail and to be honest with yourself about those failures and learn from them. Clarity is the most valuable thing you can possess.The best career advice she ever received:

DVF: Well, it was life advice that I later applied to my career, but my mother taught me early on that fear is not an option, and I have always remembered that—it has made me willing to take risks with my career. It is one of the reasons I am excited to be a part of the Women Entrepreneur Festival—so I can help to inspire and show women that they can be entrepreneurs, start their own companies, and be leaders.

And the worst?

I don't remember—and it doesn't matter. I always focus on the good and forget the bad.

What she's looking for in job applicants:

DVF: I am looking for a connection, a point of view, a sense of humor—an honest conversation about what we are both looking for.

What she wears to work:

DVF: I wear whatever is in my shop at the time. In the winter, I love to wear my Ahiga sweater, a pencil skirt, and suede boots.